TEHRAN—Archaeologists have commenced work on Tepe Rivi, a rich excavation site in northeast Iran, which previously yielded relics and ruins dating from the Bronze Age to the early Islamic period.

Up to the moment, nine seasons of archaeology have been carried out on the site, of which seven were conducted by joint Iranian and German experts, North Khorasan province’s tourism chief said on Saturday.

“Based on archeological evidence, Ravi is one of the most important historical sites in the northeast of the country, where determined archaeological research can help improve our understanding of the historical identity of the region and develop tourism in North Khorasan,” Mohammadreza Qahremanian said.

Previous archaeological excavations have delivered significant results, including a large area inhabited for about 2300 years from about 1700 BC to the end of the Sassanid era, the official explained.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the official underlined the vast size and importance of the site under the Achaemenid rule. “Rivi is of high importance as its size reached more than 110 hectares during the Achaemenid period and it seems that it was one of the important cities of the Achaemenid period (c. 550 BC to 330 CE) in the northeast of the country.”

Initial archaeological research on Rivi started in 2012. Since then teams of Iranian and German archaeologists accessed remains of settlements from the Bronze and Iron Ages, the Achaemenid (550–330 BC), the Parthian (247 BC–224 CE), the Sassanid dynasty (224–651 CE), and the early Islamic period.

So far, professionals in the fields of archeology, geography, geophysics, geomorphology, and ecology from the [Ludwig Maximilian] University of Munich; the [Free] University of Berlin; the University of Tehran and Shahid Beheshti University have worked in Rivi archaeological site.

In 2019, a joint mission of Iranian and German archaeologists discovered historical clay stamps in the Rivi region, which are estimated to date from the Achaemenid and Parthian eras. The seals were found alongside clay urns in a large hall, and the seals are imprinted in a variety of geometric patterns [depicting] plants, animals, and human figures.

Evidence suggests that residents of this area sealed the urns that were loaded with particular goods and then tied them with ropes, the archaeologist said. In May 2021, the restoration of some ruined structures, particularly those dating from the Achaemenid era (550–330 BC) started. Moreover, a team of restorers began work last December on earthenware and other relics discovered from the site.

AM